The Parables

Tomas - Precinct Sixteen

Tomas - Precinct Sixteen

"Oh, Tomas," Catnips whispers. "Look what that bastard Rigo has done to you."

"Don't worry," I reply, a grin growing on my face. "I'll kick his ass if I get back. If I don't, you can kick his ass for me." Catnips giggles, then her faces changes and she looks at me sadly.

"When you get back," she corrects. "Not if. Never if. Only when." I nod, just as I hear the door creak open. Glancing up, I shockingly see Rigo stride in. I narrow my eyes, and an anger suddenly flares up inside of me.

"Rigo," I snarl, stepping forward, but Catnip puts her hand against my chest.

"Don't," she says in a low voice.

"Well, well, well, what do we have here?" Rigo smirks slyly. "A Martyr not volunteered for? Shame." He pouts, sticking his bottom lip out in mock sadness, then cackles triumphantly.

"You know, I didn't need to go to such measures just to get revenge, you know," he continues, pacing the room slowly. "Surely you could've avoided that arrow." It suddenly all clicks into place.

"You shot the arrow," I growl. "Why? Trying to kill Catnip, were you? Don't know what she's ever done to you."

"Oh, I wasn't aiming for Catnip," Rigo says, an iniquitous expression plastered across his face. "I was aiming for you." Catnip gasps. My eyes widen.

"B...but..." I stammer. Rigo snickers.

"Oh don't look so surprised," he crows, patronisingly. "I knew you'd block Catnip from the arrow. You'd take a bullet for her if you had to. It was the only way."

"But, why?" I query, still confused about the entire situation.

"If I could get you dead, or even injured enough to be out of training, then our team wouldn't fail," Rigo spits through gritted teeth. "Your team always loses because you never, ever, pay attention. You're always bloody daydreaming! And everyone is sick of it. Everyone hates you for that!"

I stare at my feet, tears pricking my eyes. Everyone hates me?

"But when you survived, I knew I had to do something about it," Rigo carries on. "So, as my Father is the Mayor, you can only guess what happened next." I didn't need to listen to Rigo. I know what he did.

"You fixed the Retraction so I would be chosen," I snarl. "Now I'm out the way, you can go on to win. Is that what you want?" Rigo smiles smugly.

"But I thought you were excluded?" Catnip questions. Rigo laughs.

"Oh no." He grins in an evil manner. "Some younger kid was. Just happened to accidentally 'drop' the arrows near them, and they were immediately accused of committing the 'crime'." Anger bubbles like lava in the pit of my stomach, and a sudden desire to slay succumbs me.

All of a sudden, the door flies open and Rigo and Catnip are enveloped by a pitch-black void. Seconds later, something emerges from the void. Something large and bulky, its skin camouflaged with a thick blanket of hairs singed to the colour of bark. A pair of blinding white fangs mottled with a sticky red substance protrude from the darkness, beads of saliva sliding down its face and dripping onto the floor, leaving behind a silvery snail trail. Two beady, bright yellow eyes glare at me from above its jaw. A wet, pink tongue darts out of the mouth, sweeping against the enamel of its teeth before disappearing again.

I take a step back. It takes a step forward, revealing an enormous claw, three razor-sharp talons jutting out from the skin. My eyes widen in horror. My body trembles uncontrollably. Backing away from the creature, I quickly glance behind me and my nose brushes against the back wall of the boxroom. Gulping, I turn back around to greet a pungent odour spreading through the air, suffocating my senses. Pressing my back against the wall, I bring my hands in front of my face and clench them into fists.